MCD strike: BJP asks Kejriwal to rise above party politics

New Delhi, Jan 29: As the city reels under an indefinite strike by sanitation workers, Delhi BJP and Congress today accused the AAP government of failing to "discharge responsibilities" and urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to rise above "party politics".

In an 'open letter' to the Chief Minister, Delhi BJP asked the CM to release Rs 3,000 crores to the three municipal corporations as per recommendations of 3rd Delhi Finance Commission (DFC).

The three BJP ruled corporations-EDMC, SDMC and NDMC- have high salary bills which are more than the non-plan fund given to them by Delhi government, the letter written by Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay read.

"Delhi government must know the municipal corporations spend their fund not just on the pay and allowances but they also look into health services, primary education, midday meal, sanitation which come to about Rs 5,000 crore per annum," Upadhyay said.

The leader announced that the party workers and its different wings will take out a march from Nirman Vihar Metro in East Delhi to the Secretariat tomorrow, in support of the striking municipal employees' demand for release of funds by the AAP government.

Delhi Congress today accused both AAP and BJP for the "pathetic situation", stating that people were suffering due to the parties' "fight" and "irresponsible behaviour".

"For the first time since Independence, Delhi is facing such a pathetic condition due to the fight between AAP government and BJP led central government," Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said.

"Both AAP government in Delhi and BJP government at the Centre have failed to take any step to end the strike causing suffering to the people faced with mounting garbage heaps in the national capital," he said.

When Congress was in power in Delhi, it had allocated adequate funds to municipal corporations. The employees never had to resort to strike to get their salaries and arrears, Maken said.

"The then Congress government in Delhi had allocated Rs 3,128.16 crore to the erstwhile MCD in 2012-13 while AAP government allocated only Rs 2,457.84 crore to the three municipal corporations for 2015-2016, though the budget should have been around Rs 4,000 crore, as the expenses go up every year," he added.

PTI